Borden launched the firework from the Howelsen Hill Ski Area in Steamboat Springs and had hoped it would travel one mile into the sky before exploding. Unfortunately, the shell detonated seconds after launch, sending sparks shooting upwards into the night sky.

Borden said that he was 95% confident that it would work, but admitted it might fail.

“There’s no data to tell us how much explosives to put underneath 2,500 pounds to get it sufficiently up in the air to explode and have everybody see it,” Borden told Steamboat Pilot & Today.